german chancellor angela merkel visits washington this week for meetings with president obama and ukraine is expected to be the number one topic. both leaders are meeting in an effort to show the west is united in its resolve to take even tougher measures against russia if necessary. elections in iraq, the iraqi prime minister is crediting voters with delivering a slap in the face of terrorism by turning out in large numbers for parliamentary elections. today's remarks reflect nouri al-maliki's confidence that he will eventually get another term. the turnout was estimated to have been 60% excluding volatile areas where there was no balloting. those are some of the latest headlines on c-span radio. years, c-span brings public affairs events from washington directly to you, putting you in the room at congressional hearings, white house events, briefings and conferences and offering complete apple ii gavel coverage of the u.s. house all is up public service of private industry. we are c-span, created by the cable tv industry 35 years ago and brought to you as a public service by your local c